"'Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me, Bless Thy little lamb to-night—'"
He paused and looked up at Mrs. Richie. "Can I say colt?" Before she could reply he decided for himself. "No; colts don't have shepherds; it has to be lamb."
Her silent laughter did not disturb him. He finished with another satisfied Amen. Helena put her arms about him to raise him from the floor, but he looked up, aggrieved.
"Why, I've not done yet," he reproached her "You've forgot the blessings."
"The blessings?" she asked timidly.
"Why, of course," said David, trying to be patient; "but I'm most done," he encouraged her. "God bless everybody—Dr. Lavendar taught me the new blessings," he interrupted himself, his eyes snapping open, "because my old blessings were all gone to heaven. God bless everybody; Dr. Lavendar, an' Mary, an' Goliath—" Helena laughed. "He said I could," David defended himself doggedly—"an' Danny, an' Dr. King, an' Mrs. Richie. And make me a good boy. For Jesus' sake Amen. Now I'm done!" cried David, scrambling happily to his feet.
"And—Mr. Pryor, too? Won't you ask God to bless Mr. Pryor?"
"But," said David, frowning, "I'm done."
"After this, though, it would be nice—"
"Well," David answered coldly, "God can bless him if He wants to. But
He needn't do it just to please me."